Product of the Day: Hockey Fights Cancer

Product of the Day

 

Hockey Fights Cancer T-Shirt

 

 

$23.95 USD

 

Available in the NHL Shop

 

Sizes: S - XXL

 

 

 $5.27 USD of each sale will be donated to the NHL’s charitable foundations

Brutal Honesty - What Makes a Good Team Great

Every once in a while teams step back and ask themselves why the great teams are so much better and more advanced. They look to see if it's the players, the coaches, or a witch doctor named Bob that visits the team prior to games. I promise you it's not the coaching or the personnel or a witch doctor named Bob. It's brutal honesty.

 

Look at major hockey cities across the globe who have teams that haven't won in decades upon decades. They spend their time telling the world how great their team is and their team in turn takes the positive feedback and does nothing to get better. They spend their time knowing that no matter what they do or how they perform, their fans aren't going to hold them accountable for anything. They know that their fans are going to accept the fact that failure is a part of their franchise and allow the problems to grow into cancers. But if one person, one coach, or one player were to tell the team the problems and be brutally honest the team would take one giant step towards growth.

 

While some teams take on the mentality of "we'll get them next time" or "we will improve", it's the teams that take responsibility and are honest enough to recognize the flaws that are the great teams. You see, Pretending that a poor effort or performance are okay is not something that a great team does. A great team identifies a poor effort and pulls no punches. It is in this moment of brutal honesty that a team can grow. A great team does not ride the high of one win but instead allows the sting of a defeat burn. This sting or burn gives the players the opportunity to become better. Naysayers would challenge that you need to shift focus back to the positives and allow the positives to override the negatives. You know what? They're wrong. If you have no offense, take too many penalties, and spend too much time chasing a lead; it won't matter that you block the most shots or carry the puck through the neutral zone the best. It won't matter that your goalie played their ass off, if you can't get or keep the lead.

 

If you're incapable of stepping back to take the good with the bad and be brutally honest about both, your team may win but they will never be great. Great teams demand perfection and do not take solace in the little things done right. Great teams fight against what was done wrong and do everything in their power makes sure that those wrongs are righted.

 

We live in a world where everything from medicine to truth must be sugar-coated. We must cut the sugar. We are not children forever and most importantly, the sugar does no one any good. Prevention of growth, that's what sugar coating does. It does not allow your good players to fix the little things in order to develop into your best players. And no, It's not rude or mean to point out mistakes. Allowing these mistakes to go unchecked is what kills teams and organizations. Growth comes from the truth.

 

Watch post-game interviews from teams that have lost. You can easily pinpoint which teams are here to achieve greatness and which are there just to exist. The teams that are there to achieve greatness will snip at reporters when they try to make excuses for the team's bad play. They will take the responsibility and blame on themselves. The teams that are there just to exist will allow the excuses to override their performance. They will focus on one good thing done right and ignore the hundreds of things that went wrong. Those teams that refuse to allow "good" to be good enough are usually the teams that are consistent contenders.

 

Good is not great. Be honest.

Must Have Purchase of the Day: Hockey Rink iPhone Case

Must Have Purchase of the Day

 

Hockey Rink iPhone Case

 

from

 

 

 

Insomniac Arts on Etsy

 

 

 

This is one of my most favorite phone cases that I have ever had and is a must have for hockey lovers.

 

The case ships worldwide (from Nashville) and costs $15.99 USD.

 

Shipping is FREE for USA based customers and $5.00-$6.00 USD for Canadian and International Based Customers. 

 

Color choices are black, clear, and white in the hard case style as well as white or black rubber cases.

 

This case can be purchased here.

 

 

 

 



Hockey Blogette is BACK

Just like the NHL regular season, Hockey Blogette is back and not only back but shifting gears and focus to cover some new things.

 

In addition to the Red Wings/NHL Hockey talk, there will be features on all things women’s hockey as well as featured items for purchase from different hockey merchandisers and suppliers.

 

Stay tuned for all of this and more!

It All Depends on the View

 

There's no bad seat in the Joe. I'm a firm believer of that. Although, the people around sometimes might not be the best... there is always a good view to be seen.

 

 

A few of the views from the season so far:

 

 

 

 

A couple views from seasons past:

 

 

Monday is a punch in the face!

Sometimes everyone has a case of the Mondays. For me, I combat this with... FIGHT VIDEOS.   I know that it doesn't work for everyone but it works for me every time. Even now, I just previewed a couple and instantly am in a better mood. Enjoy and Happy Monday!

No day like today

It looks like today is the day that the NHL will announce that hockey is being move out of Atlanta and relocated to Winnipeg. I believe most of us thought that we would be seeing the original Jets team (the Phoenix Coyotes) come back to it's home instead of the Thrashers being taken. The city of Atlanta has gone through the loss of an NHL team once before when the Atlanta Flames were moved to Calgary in 1980 less than a decade after it's founding in 1972. It took 19 years for Atlanta to get their franchise back and just a mere 12 years later, it's being taken away again.

Condolences to the true Atlanta Thrashers fans who supported their team when no one else did.


Today is also apparently the day that Manitobans and Peggers alike have been looking forward to since 1996 when their franchise was taken from them. Granted, no one saw this playing out as it has but it seems that the people of Winnipeg will be watching NHL hockey front and center sooner rather than later. I have heard from Manitobans since the team left that they wanted their team back. Now this team that is being moved there, It's not their team but it's a team. Here's hoping the city of Winnipeg embraces this new hockey club, whatever team name that they choose to call themselves, and the fans that ultimately will come with them when they move. Cherish this team and come out to support them in full force to prove to the rest of the NHL that a mistake was not made in this move.

Congratulations Winnipeg you have gotten what you wished for.


As a Detroit Red Wings fan, I cannot imagine the pain or longing that both of these cities and their hockey fans have gone through and are continuing to go through. Seeing that the city of Atlanta has gone through this process twice, I would hope that the fans in Winnipeg are sensitive and understanding towards the Thrasher fans. I also hope that the Thrasher fans do not act hostile towards the fans of Winnipeg. Both cities have dealt with the loss of a team in the past and should relate on some level on how the other is feeling. This next season is going to be a season of adjustment and change. Here's hoping it will all work out for the best.

The Greater Good... And What Not

I fully understand that I am a homer that has chosen one team above all. This fact has led to me being called entitled and judgemental of other fans. Entitled? I don't think so. Judgemental? Yes, indeed. I don't like fair-weatherness, crazies, or puckslutyness. Acting like you know something when indeed someone else has force-fed you your opinion is just as bad. More than everything, I don't like being associated with those who behave as such. Don't be lemmings. Don't act like a jackhole because someone else told you it's cool. And don't change your destructive ways just because I point out how destructive to the fan base as a whole they are.We have become like oil and water. Even when we are intertwined we are still separate as of late.

Now is the time to band together. Now is the time when we fans will be challenged to stay the course and cheer for our team together. Now is not the time to choose one player on another team over our entire team. Now is not the time to second guess our boys. Now is the time to cheer harder, be better, and do everything in our power to show our boys that we support them. (And not in a puckbunny way, bunnies). The challenge is to always cheer and never boo.

Our boys will face challenges and they will be the ones doing all the work. They will be the ones giving everything of themselves on the ice night in and night out. I challenge you to not take the low road where you spend the entire game insulting our players. Have some dignity and respect. Every win last series was over-shadowed by the immense smack talking by our own fans about our own team. Majority of these fans are the complainers that would complain if they were hung with a new rope. Don't take that road. Don't be that guy. Obviously these players that are consistently trashed have something that keeps them on our roster past the trade deadline and in our line up by some of the greatest hockey minds in the business. So trust that the coaching staff and front office knows more than you because chances are... they actually do. The great Vince Lombardi said "The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual." Each player is a piece in the puzzle that is the Detroit Red Wings. Always remember that these guys live a lifestyle that many could not handle. Remember that at the end of the day, no matter what, these players are human beings that deserve to be treated as such. I do not boo you when you do something that I do not like, Do not boo them.

Take pride in our team. Every single day. Not just on the days when the world is watching. There is no justification to put on a rival team's colors and go to their arena and cheer them in my mind. One team, above all. Lift your head high regardless of a win or a loss. Appreciate that we are able to watch one of the greatest franchises in all professional sports night in and night out. Understand to achieve anything it takes faith, hard work, determination, and dedication. It’s easy to have faith when things are going great and we’re on top of the world. It's when our team is facing adversity that our faith in them must being the strongest. Never allow your fear of what might happen overcome your faith that it won't.

Standing five foot tall, being the bigger person has never been my forte. But I encourage you to act with respect and honor when it comes to our team. Acting as morons will only make the fan base look bad. It's not just about appearances. It's about morale. Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit. Don't quit on our team.

So these are our choices, eh?

Well I believe these are the scenarios
(don't quote me because things change every day)



If Vancouver beats Chicago we will be forced to look at JumBro Joe

We would also have to listen to the entire soundtrack of Jaws for a minimum of two games.



If Los Angeles beats San Jose we get to see douche wear at it's finest

This scenario has us subjected to something we do do do do do do do do don't want to hear.





PREPARE TO GO CROSS-EYED






If Vancouver beats Chicago and LA beats San Jose
OR
If Chicago beats Vancouver and San Jose beats LA...

We will have to hear lots about this bro and his lady

We will also be subjected to the asinine chants that the Preds faithful chant at every game.

Including, but not limited to, the clever gem of

"If you’re crappy and you know it, ice the puck! (clap clap)
If you’re crappy and you know it, ice the puck! (clap clap)
If you’re crappy and you know it, and you really wanna show it, if you’re crappy and you know it, ice the puck! (clap clap)"

Ohhh those Preds fans are just so clever...




Regardless of who we end up facing...
PREPARE TO BE ANNOYED.

A few snaps from RWTCTC

Here are just a couple of favorite pictures that I took at Red Wings Training Camp in Traverse City:

"People let me tell ya' bout my BEST FRIEND"

MULE

Kenny Holland and Mike Babcock look down upon you.

BERT

Ozzie drinking PEPSI?!? On the ice?!? At Training Camp?!?


The ice :)




To take a look at all my pictures from RWTCTC check out my photobucket album

A sight for sore eyes

HALLELUJAH!

There is ice at the Joe and there were Wings on it... TODAY!

Eaves and Zetterberg

Jimmy and Ozzy having a staring contest

Jimmy and his newly painted mask

Zetterberg "trying to check" Lidstrom (kinda looks like he's giving him a little huggle)

Former Wing Manny Legace

Ozzy just maxin' and relaxin' all cool (or menacingly staring at Jimmy)

HELP ME HOMER

The Perfect Human himself Nicklas Lidstrom

Zet-ter-berg

Wings (and some others) stretching

Did he just murder someone? Is that why he looks SOO happy? SMILE Bert!

Zeta, Draps, and Cleary plus Horcoff

Homer and Jimmy

Helmer trying out to be the next great action hero.

All photos credit to the Detroit News and John Greilick

It's soapbox time

“I watched women's hockey once. Then I got up and did something better with my life. Like watch grass grow and paint dry.”

“And I don't think any women's sport will really take off. Only women in men's league makes splashes. Just being honest in my opinion.”


Statements like those make me want to scream. Everyone has a right to their own opinion but reading these made me want to throw a hissy fight and/or slice someone's throat with a skate blade. Gruesome? Yes. Fact? Completely. Women’s hockey isn’t given the same funding or respect as the men’s but they are supposed to perform better than the men’s leagues? What are the women supposed to light the ends of their sticks on fire and twirl them around like flaming batons in order for you to be entertained?

Women’s hockey is boring, eh? If it was watched and no attention was paid to who was playing you probably wouldn’t have noticed a difference but since you know that it’s women playing He-Man syndrome generally kicks in and all the sudden you would rather the woman who is kicking ass on the ice be dressed like some glorified skankbox shooting t-shirts out of a cannon at the “real hockey games”. Women’s hockey NEEDS more advocates. It doesn’t need more macho men walking around talking about how Women’s sports will never compare to Men’s sports. Women, generally, aren’t given the same training opportunities or opportunities at all as the men. Girls who play in boy leagues are made to feel like they are less of a girl for playing the game with the boys. I can remember my senior year in high school the only way to be a part of women’s hockey was to transfer to an all girls catholic school and several of my underclassmen actually contemplating switching schools because that was their only opportunity to play. Most of the boy’s/men’s leagues aren’t as welcoming to women as they like to pretend that they are. I've noticed that at the end of the day even if they say they are pro-women's sports teams most people tend to treat them as a mockery. Women can play hockey. That's a fact, jack!

It seems like every couple months someone or something happens and I need to jump up on my soapbox and fight for Women’s rights. And roll your eyes all you please but Women’s hockey is a rights issue. Women aren’t given the same respect (need I remind you of the last time I had to jump up on the soapbox)

And with that, it's set

The Detroit Red Wings signed Justin Abdelkader to a two year contract today! (details not yet available)

This little guy wearing the Winged wheel is none other than Justin Abdelkader. It may have been fate that he became a Wing after all.

With the signing of Justin Abdelkader it appears that the Wings' roster is FINALLY set for Training Camp.

26 DAYS UNTIL THE WINGS HEAD TO TC FOR TRAINING CAMP

Seems like it's been too long...

Double edge sword to going to the Stanley Cup finals back to back years is that us fans got used to the whole short summer routine. A short summer where you barely even blinked and it was time for training camp again. As we all know that didn't happen this past post season so many of us have been practically slamming our heads in car doors trying to pass the time until the season... or at least preseason... or that is training camp starts. The addiction to hockey sometimes is a powerful drug.

In case you wasted your off season waiting for hockey, here are some things you COULD have been doing

You could have checked out some potential post-hockey career options.

You could have tried your hand in another sport.

You could have played one of the numerous NHL games while waiting (still) for a call from your general manager.

You could have done the traditional "Hockey is over, Bring on the golf" thing.

Or you and some of your friends/teammates could have gone to a wedding, perhaps a teammate's wedding, and rocked an adult onesies in the name of "tradition".